Recording Medium Destruction Device

ABSTRACT

A recording medium destruction device adapted to readily destroying a recording medium that is small and irregularly mounted such as an IC mounted on a board. The recording medium destruction device consists mainly of a device mounting part, a destruction part, and an elevating unit. The destruction part includes a number of needles arranged vertically and horizontally in a planar manner and is divided into six sections. In order to destroy recording media such as ICs mounted on a circuit board using the recording medium destruction device, the circuit board incorporating ICs (recording media) to be destroyed is to be put on the device mounting part, whereupon the destruction part is moved down to perforate a number of throughholes in the circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording medium destruction deviceadapted to destroy a recording medium so as to render the mediumunreadable. The present invention is suitable for destroying a recordingmedium such as an IC mounted on a circuit board and recordinginformation therein.

2. Background Art

Computer-related technology makes advances, and computers become widelyused in companies and homes in these days. Further, althoughcomputer-related technology is in the process of improving dramaticallyeven now, the technology continues to improve with surprising speed fromday to day. Therefore, computers purchased by companies or individualshave an obsolescence of a short space of time, so that they seek newcomputers.

That causes many occasions to dispose of the existing computers maderedundant.

Meanwhile, computers have therein a number of memories (recoding media),so that it is necessary to pay close attention so as to avoid leakage ofsecret information from the memories within the computers when theunneeded computers are disposed of, and thus, recorded informationshould be erased or made unreadable.

A means such as overwriting dummy data a plurality of times is thoughtas a way to erase recorded information, but it requires a considerableamount of time to make completely impossible to read information thatone wants to erase. A method to physically destroy a recording medium tomake information unreadable is more practical than a method to eraseinformation, and the art employing such a disposal method is disclosedin a patent document 1.

Patent document 1: JP 2004-071057A

The art disclosed in the patent document 1 is a device for destroying ahard disk, having a punch head attached to a piston rod, whereby amagnetic disk of the hard disk is punched out.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

The device disclosed in the patent document is suitable for destroying arecording medium such as a hard disk that is large enough and has amagnetic disk (recording medium) whose position is readily determined.

However, a computer includes a number of recording media except a harddisk, and ICs also record important information therein. Thus, it takesmore than destruction of a hard disk to completely avoid leakage ofsecret information, and ICs within a computer should be also destroyed.

However, ICs are small and mounted all over circuit boards arranged in acomputer. Therefore, in disposal of a computer, it is necessary toremove circuit boards inside and destroy all ICs mounted on the boardsone by one.

Herein, in order to destroy ICs using the device disclosed in the patentdocument described above, the punch head is to be brought down to theICs on the boards, but the ICs are small and mounted all over the boardsas described above, resulting in low workability. Further, an IC tip isirregularly attached depending on a board, rendering difficulty toproduce a jig with general versatility.

Thus, in consideration of the reality described above, the inventionaims to provide a recording medium destruction device adapted to readilydestroying a recording medium that is small and irregularly mounted suchas an IC mounted on a board.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of aspects of the invention as defined in claim 1 proposed to solvethe problems and drawbacks described above is a recording mediumdestruction device, including a device mounting part for mountingthereon one selected from a recording medium and an electronic deviceincorporating a recording medium and a destruction part adapted to beshifted relative to the device mounting part between positions close toand remote from the device mounting part, and being adapted to destroyone selected from (a) the recording medium and (b) the recording mediumincorporated in the electronic device by pressing the destruction partto the one selected from the recording medium and the electronic devicewith the selected one mounted on the device mounting part, wherein thedestruction part comprises a plurality of projections of a needle or pinshape, the projections being arranged in a planar manner.

The recording medium destruction device of the present aspect includesthe destruction part having a plurality of projections of a needle orpin shape arranged in a planar manner, the destruction part beingshifted relative to the device mounting part between positions close toand remote from the device mounting part. Thereby, the projectionsevenly come into contact with a device such as an electronic devicemounted on the device mounting part. Consequently, even if recordingmedia are irregularly mounted as a circuit board taken out of acomputer, the projections come into contact with all the recordingmedia, thereby destroying all the media.

Further, the projections contacting with a device such as an electronicdevice each are of a needle or pin shape, so that a concentrative forceis loaded on the device. Therefore, according to a configuration of thepresent aspect, relatively small power source is enough to drive thedestruction part.

Another aspect of the invention as defined in claim 2 is the device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the destruction part is divided into aplurality of sections, each section being adapted to be shifted relativeto the device mounting part between positions close to and remote fromthe device mounting part.

The recording medium destruction device in the present aspect issuitable for destroying recording media such as ICs mounted on a circuitboard having marked irregularities on its surface.

Specifically, a circuit board taken out of a computer includes one of aflat plate, but generally has a certain degree of irregularities. Thus,in the case that a convex portion is higher than a certain level or thata convex portion is constituted by a high-rigid member, upon contactingof a part of the destruction part with the corresponding portion, thedestruction part may be stopped moving. That may cause the projectionsof the destruction part to stop short of the ICs situated at lowpositions.

The present aspect therefore divides the destruction part into aplurality of sections, each section being adapted to be shifted relativeto the device mounting part between positions close to and remote fromthe device mounting part.

According to the device in the present aspect, even if some of thesections collide with a high rigid portion and stop moving, the othersections continues to move independently of that. Thus, the projectionsin the other sections reach the recording media such as the circuitboard, thereby destroying the media.

Still another aspect of the invention as defined in claim 3 is thedevice as defined in claim 1 or 2, wherein the projections of thedestruction part are arranged so that configuration of the projectionsis changeable.

Yet another aspect of the invention as defined in claim 4 is the deviceas defined in one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the destruction part furtherincludes a base having a number of projection attaching parts, to atleast part of which the projections are attached, wherein theprojections of the destruction part are arranged so that configurationof the projections is changeable by changing the number or the positionsof the projections attached to the base.

The recording medium destruction devices as defined in claims 3 and 4each are designed to change a configuration of the projections of thedestruction part. Therefore, in the case that a portion that a userwants to avoid destruction in a device such as an electronic device or aportion that is too rigid to destroy is known in advance, aconfiguration of the projections are changed to protect such a portionor prevent the destruction part from stopping moving.

Yet still another aspect of the invention as defined in claim 5 is therecording medium destruction device as defined in claim 3 or 4, whereinthe device mounting part has a positioning jig for positioning the oneselected from the recording medium and the electronic device.

The device in the present aspect has the positioning jig for positioninga device such as an electronic device on the device mounting part, so asto carry out positioning of a portion that a user wants to avoiddestruction in a device or a portion that is too rigid to destroy inrelation to the projections of the destruction part.

The positioning jig is preferably changeable.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 6 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 5, whereinthe electronic device is a circuit board on which the recording mediumis mounted.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 7 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 6, beingadapted to destroy the recording medium incorporated in the electronicdevice, the electronic device further incorporating a display and beingplaced on the device mounting part, wherein the destruction part has theprojections on a portion except an area where the display is positioned.

An electronic device such as a cell phone, for example, incorporates adisplay such as a liquid crystal, which is much in demand for recycling.Thus, even when a recording medium of a cell phone is destroyedincluding its body, it is desired to avoid damage to the display.

The present aspect responds to this demand and distributes theprojections of the destruction part to a portion except an area wherethe display is positioned, so as to eliminate damage to the display.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 8 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 7, beingadapted to apply voltage to the projections.

The device in the present aspect is designed to apply voltage to theprojections. When the projections have a contact with a recording mediumitself or a printed wiring communicating with the recording medium,current flows through the medium to short out and destroy the medium.According to the present aspect, a recording medium is destroyed withcertainty.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 9 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 8, theprojections being adapted to withdraw toward the destruction part uponreception of a predetermined amount of force.

The device in the present aspect is suitable for destroying media suchas ICs mounted on a circuit board having marked irregularities of itssurface.

According to the device in the present aspect, when the projections bumpinto an area such as a high-rigid portion and get unmovable furtherdownward, the projections themselves withdraw toward the destructionpart upon reception of reaction force from a circuit board. The otherprojections continue moving downward regardless of this movement, so asto reach a recording medium such as a circuit board to destroy themedium.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 10 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 9, furtherincluding a projection releasing member adapted to release theprojections from the one selected from the recording medium and theelectronic device incorporating a recording medium.

As the device in the present aspect has the projection releasing memberfor releasing the projections from a recording medium or an electricdevice incorporating a recording medium, the medium or the electronicdevice is readily taken out from the destruction part after theprojections are thrust through them.

Further aspect of the invention as defined in claim 11 is the recordingmedium destruction device as defined in one of claims 1 to 10, whereinthe projections are magnetized.

The projections employed in the present aspect are magnetized. Theprojections in the present aspect are useful for a recording medium thatis magnetically recorded, and erase recorded data or make themunreadable.

There is more than one means to magnetize the projections. It includes ameans to employ projections composed of permanent magnets, a means totemporarily magnetize the projections by forming electric magnets wiringa coil around projections, or a means to indirectly magnetizeprojections by forming the projections by a magnetic material such asiron or nickel and further magnetizing members having exposure to theprojections.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION

The recording medium destruction device in the present invention iseffective in readily destroying a recording medium that is small andirregularly mounted. That is effective in preventing leakage of secretinformation of concern in disposal of a recording medium.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Now, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be describedbelow, making reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a principal part of a recordingmedium destruction device in an embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship between needles anddevice mounting part in the recording medium destruction device inFIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording medium destructiondevice in destroying a circuit board using the device in FIG. 1. FIG. 4is a partially sectional perspective view of a destruction part in therecording medium destruction device in FIG. 1.

In the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a recording medium destructiondevice in an embodiment of the present invention. The device 1 in thepresent embodiment consists mainly of a device mounting part 2, adestruction part 3, and an elevating unit 5.

The device mounting part 2 is a metal plate having high rigidity and asurface plate shape. A plurality of threaded holes 6 are distributedvertically and horizontally in a planar manner on a top face of thedevice mounting part 2.

The destruction part 3 includes a number of needles 10 arrangedvertically and horizontally in a planar manner and is divided into sixsections.

The sections of the destruction part 3 each are of a quadrangular shapeand have a plate-like base 12. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, the needles10 are arranged densely all over a bottom face of each base 12. Morespecifically, the base 12 has a number of screw holes (projectionattaching part) 15 as shown in FIG. 4, the threaded holes 15 beingdistributed vertically and horizontally in a planar manner. Herein, thethreaded holes 15 penetrate through the base 12.

An area density of distribution of the screw holes (projection attachingpart) 15 of the destruction part 3 is 15 to 300 per 10 centimeterssquare, and preferably 20 to 100 per 10 centimeters square.

As described below, even in the case of attaching the needles 10 to thebase 12 by means other than screws, the projection attaching part 15 isrecommended to have a similar distribution density.

On the other hand, the needles 10 each are provided with a screw 17 atits rear end as shown in FIG. 4. The needles 10 each are attached byengaging the screw 17 at its rear end with the threaded hole 15 of thebase 12. Thus, the needles 10 are attachable to and detachable from thebase 12.

Thicknesses of the needles 10 depend on a recording medium to bedestroyed, but each of the needles 10 has a diameter of one to tenmillimeters in thickness and preferably of two to six millimeters.

As shown in FIG. 1, the elevating unit 5 moves up and down screw shafts20. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, female screw members22 are rotatively attached to a frame 21 shown in chain double-dashedline. Each of the female screw members 22 forms in its center a femalescrew, into which one screw shaft 20 is inserted.

Further, the female screw members 22 is rotated by a motor not shown,and whereby the screw shafts 20 engaged with the female screw members 22are moved up and down.

The bases 12 of the destruction part 3 are attached to heads of thescrew shafts 20, respectively.

The present embodiment has six motors (not shown) for moving up and downthe destruction part 3, with each of the bases 12 separately moved upand down by the respective motor. The motors automatically stop uponreception of electric current above a certain level.

Now, how to use the recording medium destruction device 1 in the presentembodiment will be described.

In order to destroy recording media such as ICs mounted on a circuitboard using the device 1 in the present invention, a circuit board 25incorporating recording media such as ICs 26 to be destroyed is to beput on the device mounting part 2 as shown in FIG. 1.

Then, a power switch not shown is turned on to start up the motor, so asto move down the destruction part 3. As described above, though thebases 12 of the destruction part 3 are separately moved up and down,turning on of the switch starts moving down of the bases 12 all at once,with the result that the destruction part 3 is actually moved in anintegrated fashion.

Then, the needles 10 of the destruction part 3 reach the surface of thecircuit board 25, pressing the circuit board 25 and penetrating throughthe circuit board 25. Herein, as the needles 10 are arranged in a planarmanner in the present embodiment, a number of throughholes areperforated in the circuit board 25. Further, as the needles 10 aredensely arranged at short intervals among the needles 10, a number ofthroughholes per unit area are perforated in the circuit board 25.Consequently, the throughholes are densely formed in the circuit board25. Therefore, at least one of the needles 10 is brought into contactwith the corresponding IC 26 mounted on the circuit board 25, with theeffect that any IC 26 is destroyed by at least one needle 10.

Specifically, though the ICs 26 each are irregularly mounted on part ofthe circuit board 25, the recording medium destruction device 1 in thepresent embodiment densely perforates the throughholes in all areas ofthe circuit board 25, so that at least one needle 10 comes into contactwith any IC 26 on the circuit board 25, consequently destroying all theICs 26. Especially, in the present embodiment, the needles 10 arepressed onto the circuit board 25, so that concentrative stress isapplied to the ICs 26 mounted on the circuit board 25, thereby readilydestroying the ICs 26.

If the destruction part were of a flat plate, force loaded on thecircuit board 25 would be dispersed, resulting in applying only smallcompressive stress to the circuit board. However, according to thepresent embodiment, the circuit board 25 is pricked with needlepoints,so as to be readily destroyed.

Further, electronic devices such as IC 26 mounted on the circuit board25 have uneven height, but in the present embodiment, the destructionpart 3 is divided into a plurality of bases 12, which separately movingup and down respectively, ensuring destruction of almost all of the ICs26.

Specifically, in the case of an IC 26 with high height on the circuitboard 25, the needles 10 attached to the base 12 of the sectioncorresponding to the IC 26 comes into contact with the IC 26. The base12 moves further downward to penetrate through the IC 26, whereuponresistance against the needles 10 gradually increases to increasecurrent value of the motor, so as to stop the motor, and thus, the base12 of the corresponding section stops moving down.

Meanwhile, as being independent of the base 12 of the section stoppedfirst, the bases 12 of the other sections continue to move down. Theneedles 10 of the bases 12 continuing to move downward reach the ICs 26with low height, thereby destroying the ICs 26 with low height.

According to the recording medium destruction device 1 in the presentinvention, almost all of the ICs 26 are destroyed even in the case ofthe circuit board 25 on which the high ICs 26 and the low ICs 26 aremixed. Further, since electronic devices other than ICs 26 are alsodestroyed, even if some sort of information is recorded in theelectronic devices other than ICs 26, the information is not recoveredfrom these devices.

FIG. 3 shows the recording medium destruction device 1 in destroying thecircuit board 25 on which high electronic devices and low electronicdevices are mixed.

In the case that the circuit board 25 includes a high member such as aslot because of its structure, the needles comes into contact with themember to stop moving down in the section corresponding to the member,but the bases 12 of the other sections continue to move further downwardto reach the surface of the circuit board 25. As a consequence, theneedles 10 of 12. most of the sections reach the surface of the circuitboard 25, thereby destroying almost all the recording media.

The description above illustrates destruction of a device such as theICs 26 on the circuit board 25 using the device 1 in the presentembodiment, but the device 1 in the present embodiment destroys not onlya circuit board but also a recording medium including a hard disk, an ICcard, an optical disk, or an MO.

Further, even in the case of a recording medium incorporated in anelectronic device such as a cell phone or an electronic databook, theentire device is destroyed.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a principal part of the recordingmedium destruction device in destroying a cell phone using the device inFIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a principal part of arecording medium destruction device in another embodiment of the presentinvention in destroying a cell phone using the device. FIG. 7 is aperspective view of a positioning jig provided on the device mountingpart in the recording medium destruction device.

Herein, a device such as a cell phone incorporates a display made ofsuch as a liquid crystal, which is strongly requested to be recycled.Therefore, in such a case, it is preferable to use the destructiondevice by detaching the needles 10 in the area corresponding to adisplay 30 as shown in FIG. 5.

Specifically, though the needles 10 are arranged in a planar manner onthe destruction part 3 in the device 1 in the present embodiment, theneedles 10 can be optionally detached because being attached by thethreaded holes 15 and the screws 17.

Thus, if and when the needles 10 in the area corresponding to thedisplay (liquid crystal) 30 are detached, the destruction part 3, whichmoves downward, does not scratch the display 30.

Further, in such a case, it is preferable to make a positioning inmounting an electronic device 31 such as a cell phone on the devicemounting part 2.

In the present embodiment, a plurality of the threaded holes 6 aredistributed in a planar manner on the top face of the device mountingpart 2, so that the threaded holes 6 are used to attach a positioningjig 32.

In the case of destroying a cell phone, for example, a positioning jighaving shape of a frame that is in conformity with a cell phone in shapeas shown in FIG. 7 is fixed to the device mounting part 2 by means ofscrews. In FIG. 7, a numeral 35 denotes a throughhole through which thescrew is inserted.

As to the destruction part 3, as shown in FIG. 5, the needles 10 in thearea corresponding to the display 30 of a cell phone (electronic device31) are detached.

After adjustment in this way, the cell phone (electronic device 31) ismounted on the device mounting part 2, whereupon the destruction part 3is moved downward.

Thereafter, the needles 10 of the destruction part 3 penetrate throughareas except the display 30 of the cell phone 31, so as to destroy arecording medium inside.

Consequently, secret information such as an address list is destroyedand a recyclable liquid crystal is recovered without any damage.

In the case of using the positioning jig 32 as described above and inthe case that positions of recording media 36 in the device such as thecell phone 31 are known in advance, the recording media 36 are destroyedby a smaller number of the needles 10, as shown in FIG. 6.

The above-mentioned embodiment discloses such a configuration that thedestruction part 3 is divided into a plurality of sections, each sectionseparately moving up and down. This configuration has an effect fordestroying a recording medium on the circuit board 25 regardless ofirregularities of the surface thereof and is recommended, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and may employ a recordingmedium destruction device 43 as shown in FIG. 8 having such aconfiguration that all the needles 10 are attached to one base 40.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a principal part of the recordingmedium destruction device 43 in still another embodiment of the presentinvention.

The recording medium destruction device 43 shown in FIG. 8 includes thebase 40 having substantially the same area as a device mounting part 45,the both ends of the base 40 being engaged with feed screws 47. The feedscrews 47 each are rotated by a motor 48. Rotation of the motors 48 moveup and down the base 40 in whole, and whereby the needles 10 destroyrecording media or electronic devices mounted on the device mountingpart 45.

The two embodiments described above destroy recording media only byphysical force, but destruction of recording media may be carried outmore completely by addition of an electric power.

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional perspective view of the destruction partto which an electrical power is added in the recording mediumdestruction device.

As the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, for example, electrodes 50 areattached to the needles 10, so that high voltage is applied to theneedles 10. High voltage current flows to recording media throughneedles 10 pricked in the recording media, thereby destroying therecording media.

Further, it is recommended to destroy recording media by addition of amagnetic force instead of or in addition to application of high voltage.

Permanent magnets can be employed as the needles 10, for example.Alternatively, a needle 80 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 can be employed,which is constituted in such a manner that a coil 82 is attached to apart of a needle body 81 made of a magnetic body and that the needlebody 81 is electrically magnetized by applying current to the coil 82.

According to the present embodiment, magnetism of the needles 10disturbs a magnetic recording surface of a device such as a hard disk,thereby further magnetically destroying the device such as a hard disk.

The above-mentioned embodiments each illustrate such a configurationthat the needles 10 are integrally secured to the base 12 or 40, but itis possible to employ such a configuration that the needles arewithdrawn towards the base 12 or 40.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views of a recording medium destructiondevice employing such a configuration that needles are withdrawn towarda base in yet another embodiment of the present invention.

A recording medium destruction device 51 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B hasthroughholes 55 in a base 53 of a destruction part 52, through whichthroughholes 55 needles 56 are inserted. The needles 56 each are movablein an axial direction through one throughhole 55 of the base 53, but donot drop off due to a stopper not shown provided on each of the needles56.

Further, the needles 56 each have a flange 57 adjacent to its head withan urging member 58 such as a spring between the flange and the bottomsurface of the base 53. Thus, the needles 56 each are normally urgedtoward the device mounting part 2 by the urging member 58 such as aspring, but do not drop off from the base 53.

When a circuit board 60 on the device mounting part 2 is destroyed bythe device 51 shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, as well as the foregoingembodiments, the destruction part 52 is moved down. Then, on theassumption that an IC 61 with higher height and an IC 62 with lowerheight are mounted on the circuit board 60, the destruction part 52 ismoved downward to firstly bring needles 56 b and 56 c into contact withthe higher IC 61. As the needles 56 b and 56 c each are urged toward thedevice mounting part 2 by the urging member 58 such as a spring, headsof the needles 56 b and 56 c are embedded into the IC 61 by furthermoving down the destruction part 52, thereby perforating holes.

However, reaction force against the needles 56 b and 56 c graduallyincreases. When the reaction force exceeds the urging force of theurging members 58, only the needles 56 b and 56 c stop as shown in FIG.10B and other needles 56 a and 56 d move further downward with the base53. Then, the needles 56 d comes into contact with the lower IC 62,thereby destroying the IC 62.

The needle 56 a attached to a position corresponding to an area in whichthe ICs 61 and 62 are not situated moves downward up to the circuitboard 60, then stops.

Consequently, the present embodiment destroys almost all of the ICs 26.

The present embodiment discloses such a configuration that the needles56 b and 56 c are pressed by the urging members 58, so as to withdrawtowards the destruction part 52 when the reaction force against theneedles 56 b and 56 c exceeds the urging force of the urging members 58,but it is possible to employ such a configuration as providing with astopper of some sort, so that the needles 56 b and 56 c withdraw towardthe destruction part 52 when its reaction force becomes above a certainlevel.

In each embodiment described above, the circuit board 25, 60 might moveup along with the destruction part 3, 52 when the destruction part 3, 52moves up if and when the needles 10, 56 are deeply pushed into thecircuit board 25, 60.

In order to respond to such a concern, it is recommended to provide witha mechanism for releasing a device such as a circuit board, as shown inFIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views of a recording medium destructiondevice employing a mechanism of releasing a device such as a circuitboard in yet still another embodiment of the present invention.

A recording medium destruction device 65 in the present embodiment has atwo-tiered destruction part 66. Specifically, the destruction part 66includes a main body-side base 70 attached to an elevation unit 5 and amovable base 71 closable to and remotable from the base 70. The base 70and the base 71 are connected by means of urging members 72 such assprings and keep a regular interval under an unloaded condition.

Needles 73 are attached to the base 70, whereas openings 75 are formedin the base 71. As shown in FIG. 11A, the needles 73 are situatedbetween the base 70 and the base 71 under an unloaded condition.

When a circuit board 60 on the device mounting part 2 is destroyed bythe device 65 shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B, as well as the foregoingembodiments, the destruction part 66 is moved down. As just described,as the needles 73 are situated between the base 70 and the base 71 underan unloaded condition, the destruction part 66 is moved downward tofirstly bring the base 71 into contact with ICs 61 on the circuit board60. The base 71 is not moved down further.

Then, the destruction part 66 is further moved downward, whereupon theneedles 73 are pushed by the base 70 to be moved downward, so as to beexposed from the openings 75 of the base 71. The destruction part 66 isstill further moved downward, whereupon the needles 73 are further moveddownward, so as to prick the ICs 61 on the circuit board 60 and finallypenetrate therethrough.

When the destruction part 66 is moved upward after destruction of theICs 61, the needles 73 are moved upward. Herein, in the foregoingembodiments, there is a concern that the circuit board 60 might be movedupward along with moving up of the needles 73. However, in the presentembodiment, the destruction part 66 has a two-tiered structure, in whichthe base 71 contacting with the ICs 61 on the circuit board 60 are urgedin a direction away from the base 70 by means of the urging members 72,so that the base 71 pushes the circuit board 60 downward upon moving upof the destruction part 66. Thereby, the circuit board 60 is releasedfrom the needles 73 and stays on the device mounting part 2 when thedestruction part 66 is move up.

The device 65 in the present embodiment therefore has high workability.

The embodiments described above illustrate the needles as theprojections attached to the destruction part 3, 52, 66, but sort ofthicker pins may be used as the projections.

Further, the embodiments described above illustrate the screws as anattachment feature of the needles (projections) 10, but the presentinvention is not limited thereto.

Such features as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 are thought instead of theattaching feature by means of the screws, for example. FIG. 14 is aperspective view of a destruction part of a recording medium destructiondevice in further embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 15 is asectional view showing a part of the destruction part in FIG. 14.

A destruction part 85 shown in FIG. 14 consists mainly of a base body 86and a backboard 87. The base body 86 has holes 88 as shown in FIG. 15.The holes 88 each are a stepped hole, whose inner diameter is partlydifferent. Specifically, the holes 88 each has a large diameter adjacentto the rear surface (top surface viewed edge-on) of the base body 86 anda small diameter adjacent to a needlepoint. A step 91 is formed in themiddle of the hole 88, functioning as a stopper.

The backboard 87 is of a flat plate.

Needles 89 each are of a nail shape with a flanged engaging part 90 atits rear end.

In the destruction part 85 shown in FIG. 14, the needles 89 are insertedthrough the holes 88 of the base body 86 with the tips (peaked portions)projecting downward from the holes 88. The backboard 87 is positioned atthe rear surface of the base body 86, so that the engaging parts 90 ofthe needles 89 are sandwiched between the steps 91 formed in the holes88 of the base body and the backboard 87. Specifically, the needles 89are attached to the destruction part 85 in such a manner as sandwichingthe engaging parts 90 between the steps 91 formed in the holes 88 andthe backboard 87.

Still further, the embodiments described above each have such astructure that configurations of the projections are changeable byputting in and taking out the needles, but it is recommended to change aconfiguration of the needles by providing with a plurality of aplate-like projection attaching members and replacing the projectionattaching members, for example.

Specifically, the projections are attached to each of the projectionattaching members by a permanent bonding means such as welding or anattaching means such as hammering-in so as to be hardly taken out andfurther put in. The projection attaching members have differentconfigurations of the projections. It is possible to prepare projectionattaching members having projections made of various materials or ofvarious thicknesses.

In the present embodiment, the most appropriate projection attachingmember depending on recording media or electronic devices to bedestroyed is selected and attached to a destruction part by a fixingmeans such as screws so as to be detachable. The projections attached tothe projection attaching member destroy devices such as recording media.

The projection attaching member can be changed depending on recordingmedia or electronic devices to be destroyed.

In the embodiments described above, the elevating unit 5 utilizes thrustforce of screws, but a linked mechanism may be utilized. FIG. 16 is arecording medium destruction device incorporating another type ofelevating unit in which the linked mechanism is put into practice. In arecording medium destruction device 90 shown in FIG. 16, an elevatingunit 91 is based on a quadric crank chain mechanism, wherein fourmembers 92 having the same length each are rotatively connected by meansof pins 93 and a screw shaft 94 is arranged through a portioncorresponding to a diagonal line. The screw shaft 94 is engaged with themember 92 by means of female screws not shown. The screw shaft 94 isrotated by a motor 95.

The elevating unit 91 has a mechanism similar to the known mechanicaljack, wherein rotation of the rotational shaft 94 by the motor 95elongates and contracts overall height to move up and down a base 40.

A configuration other than the elevating unit 91 in the device 90 is thesame as those of the foregoing embodiments.

As described above, the recording medium destruction device in thepresent invention completely destroys a recording medium and preventsleakage of secret in disposal of an electronic device such as acomputer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a principal part of a recordingmedium destruction device in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a relationship between needles anddevice mounting part in the recording medium destruction device in FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the recording medium destruction devicein destroying a circuit board using the device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional perspective view of a destruction partin the recording medium destruction device in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a principal part of the recordingmedium destruction device in destroying a cell phone using the device inFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a principal part of a recordingmedium destruction device in another embodiment of the present inventionin destroying a cell phone using the device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a positioning jig provided on the devicemounting part in the recording medium destruction device;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a principal part of a recordingmedium destruction device in still another embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 9 is a partially sectional perspective view of the destruction partto which an electrical power is added in the recording mediumdestruction device;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are sectional views of a recording medium destructiondevice employing such a configuration that needles are withdrawn towarda base in yet another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 10Abeing the view in preparation, FIG. 10B being the view afterdestruction;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are sectional views of a recording medium destructiondevice employing a mechanism of releasing a device such as a circuitboard in yet still another embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 11Abeing the view in preparation, FIG. 11B being the view afterdestruction;

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a needle employed in arecording medium destruction device in further embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 13 is a sectional view of the needle employed in the recordingmedium destruction device in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a destruction part of a recordingmedium destruction device in further embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a part of the destruction part inFIG. 14; and

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a principal part of a recordingmedium destruction device provided with a different type of elevatingunit in the embodiment of the present invention.

1. A recording medium destruction device, comprising: a device mountingpart for mounting thereon one selected from a recording medium and anelectronic device incorporating a recording medium; and a destructionpart adapted to be shifted relative to the device mounting part betweenpositions close to and remote from the device mounting part, and beingadapted to destroy one selected from (a) the recording medium and (b)the recording medium incorporated in the electronic device by pressingthe destruction part to the one selected from the recording medium andthe electronic device with the selected one mounted on the devicemounting part, wherein the destruction part comprises a plurality ofprojections of a needle or pin shape, the projections being arranged ina planar manner.
 2. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein thedestruction part is divided into a plurality of sections, each sectionbeing adapted to be shifted relative to the device mounting part betweenpositions close to and remote from the device mounting part.
 3. Thedevice as defined in claim 1, wherein the projections of the destructionpart are arranged so that configuration of the projections ischangeable.
 4. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein the destructionpart further comprises a base having a number of projection attachingparts, to at least part of which the projections are attached, whereinthe projections of the destruction part are arranged so thatconfiguration of the projections is changeable by changing the number orthe positions of the projections attached to the base.
 5. The device asdefined in claim 3, wherein the device mounting part has a positioningjig for positioning the one selected from the recording medium and theelectronic device.
 6. The device as defined in claim 1, wherein theelectronic device is a circuit board on which the recording medium ismounted.
 7. The device as defined in claim 1, being adapted to destroythe recording medium incorporated in the electronic device, theelectronic device further incorporating a display and being placed onthe device mounting part, wherein the destruction part has theprojections on a portion except an area where the display is positioned.8. The device as defined in claim 1, being adapted to apply voltage tothe projections.
 9. The device as defined in claim 1, the projectionsbeing adapted to withdraw toward the destruction part upon reception ofa predetermined amount of force.
 10. The device as defined in claim 1,further comprising: a projection releasing member adapted to release theprojections from the one selected from the recording medium and theelectronic device incorporating a recording medium.
 11. The device asdefined in claim 1, wherein the projections are magnetized.
 12. Thedevice as defined in claim 4, wherein the device mounting part has apositioning jig for positioning the one selected from the recordingmedium and the electric device.